Photographic developing apparatus



Aug. 14; 1934.

E. M. L EAHEY PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING APPARATUS Filed March 18, 1933 o o l l 8 l o I o 1 o o 0 l O I INVEHTOR: EDWARD Ml LE HEY ATTORNE Patented Aug. 14, 1934 PATENT OFFICE PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING APPARATUS Edward Murray Leahey, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Application March 1a, 1933, Serial No. 661,432

4 Claims. (01. 95-100) This invention relates to photographic developing apparatus and more particularly to that type of apparatus which may be used with equal facility for the treatment of films, plates or other forms of sensitized photographic material.

An object of the invention is to provide a mounting device for sensitized photographic elements by means of which the successive operations of developing, fixing, washing and, if desired, drying of the film or the like may be performed with a minimum of handling of the film and in which is provided a convenient, flexible arrangement for mounting the films, plates or the like for treatment in a tank.

The invention consists of the novel features of construction and combination of parts hereafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing illustrative of the invention-- Figure 1 shows, in side elevation, a suitable tank for use in connection with the mounting device.

Figure 2 is'a top plan view of the tank.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the frame of the mounting device.

Figure 4 is a section on line 44 of Figure 1 Figure 5 is a perspective view of the mounting device with plates in place.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the mounting device.

Figure '7 is a perspective view of a side unit of the mounting device.

In the drawing, a tank 1 of suitable construction for use in connection with the invention is illustrated. It will be apparent that various forms of tanks may be employed, that illustrated forming no part of the present invention. As shown. the tank is provided with a cover 2 with depending flanges 3, preferably fitting within lugs 4 on 4 the tank to most effectively insure exclusion of light, as illustrated in Figure 4. On .the outside of one end of the tank is a liquid receiving chamber 5 which discharges into the tank through rows 6 of perforations or the like. Depending 5 intothis chamber are two pipes 7 and 8, prefei ably extending to adjacent the bottom of the chamber. The pipe 7 has an external closure '7 and the pipe 8 is preferably arranged to receive a hose connection. Inside the tank and on its other end is a conduit 9 having inlet openings 10 therein anddischarge outlets 11 having external closures 12. The tank is made of any desirable material resistant to chemical action of the solutions used in treating the films and the like.

Within the tank is arranged a device on which the film, plates or the like are mounted for convenient and uniform application of the solutions and wash water employed in their treatment. This device is constructed as follows: The side bars 13 have cut-away end portions forming shoulders 14 which rest on the conduit 9 and are adjustably connected together by rods 15 fixed to one bar and. passing through openings in the other. The central rod is screwthreaded and carries a nut 16 and a locating member 17 which is secured to the movable bar. On each bar is a vertical support 18 on which may be mounted any desired number of film locating units 19 which are held in place by a clamping member 20.

Each of these units 19 has on its outer side a slotted lug 21 for engaging the vertical support 18 and on its inner side an offset portion 22 slightly shorter than the unit itself, forming longitudinal bearing surfaces 23 and 24 on the inside and outside, respectively, of the unit. When these units are mounted on the support 18, without the film or plates, they snugly fit into each other forming a substantially closed side of the mounting device, the bearing surface 23 receiving the lower edge of the offsetjportion 22 and the bearing surface 24 receiving the upper edge 25 of the unit immediately above. When the photographic plates 26 are put in place, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, their side edges rest on the bearing surfaces 23 and the plates are held securely in place in a straight horizontal plane by the location of the successive units on the vertical supports, the clamping members 20 holding the plates and side units firmly united in the mounting device. As will be observed the ends of each side unit, and particularly of the offset portion, are rounded so that a film may be mounted thereon without being scratched or otherwise marred.

It will be understood that a film of the roll type is to be continuously wound about the offset portions of the side units with the edges of the film resting on the bearing surfaces 23 thereof while plates or material of the cut film type are arranged as shown in Figure 5. If greater spacing of the film sections is desired, this may be secured by using alternate units on each side as spacers.

In the operation of the apparatus, the mounting device is removed from the tank, adjusted by means of the nut 16 to the size of material to be developed, and in a dark room the film, plate or other photographic material is put in place within the successive side units, when the clamping members are fixed in position and the loaded mounting device is returned to the tank. In placing the film, all the side units are preferably removed and put in place one by one as the roll him is wound or the plate laid in place. The cover being applied, when the light may be turned on. the developing solution is run into the tank through the pipe 7 and passing through the perforations 6 it rises in the tank until the uppermost plate or section of film is covered thereby. When the developing action is completed the solution is run off through the outlets 11, the arrangement of the pipes 'l and 8 and the conduit 9 insuring against the admission of light. Further treatments including washing of the material then successively follow without opening the tank until the material may be exposed to the light. The pipe 8 may be readily connected by a hose connection to a water tap for convenient and complete washing purposes. If desired, the finished material may remain on the mounting device until it dries either within or without the tank.

There is but one handling of the photographic material in the complete operation and thus a minimum opportunity is afforded for injuring the sensitive material. If desired, the loaded mounting devices may be removed from one tank to another for each successive operation. The mounting device is capable of easy adjustment to varying widths and lengths of film or the like. One or more of the mounting devices may be inserted in the tank as desired. The horizontal disposition oi the film or the like in the tank requires a minimum amount of solution and may thus effect considerable economy in that direction.

The apparatus is well suited for the development of X-ray films as well as other types of photographic materials and is applicable to amateur as well as commercial use.

What I claim is:

1. In a photographic developing apparatus, a

mounting device for a sensitized element comprising a pair of connected frame members. means for moving said members to and from each other, a support on and perpendicular to each member and a plurality of side units for supporting said sensitized element mounted on said supports.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said side units has an oifset portion providing bearings for an edge ofsaid sensitized element and for the edge of an adjacently placed unit.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, having means for anchoring said units on said support and whereln'each of said units has a slotted lug for engaging the vertical support.

4. In a photographic developing apparatus, a mounting device for a sensitized element comprising a pair of frame members laterally'adjustable with respect to each other, unit supporting means carried by each of said members, a plurality of side units mounted on each of said supporting means, each side unit having a hurlzontal bearing surface for a sensitized element, and means for anchoring said units in fixed relation to said supporting means.

EDWARD MURRAY LEAHEY. 

